Push-pull attachment for skid steer-type machine or tractor

ABSTRACT

An attachment for a skid steer, tractor or similar work vehicle especially designed for creating a swale or ditch in the earth has an arcuate, generally semi-circular steel blade of a predetermined height dimension and a diametrically extending support member welded to ends of the blade. Welded centrally on the support member is a conventional quick-attach plate, a pair of elongated braces extend between and are welded to the quick-attach plate and the arcuate blade.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to earth working equipment and,more particularly, to an improved earth scraper attachment for a skidsteer, front end loader, tractor or related type work vehicle,especially designed for creating swales or rounded ditches in a groundsurface.

II. Discussion of the Prior Art

Various types of earth scraping attachments for work vehicles are knownin the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,438 describes an attachment for a skidsteer for grading the ground and that attaches to the hydraulic liftarms of the vehicle. It includes a guide frame operatively disposedbetween a quick attach plate for mating with the lift arms and aV-shaped cutting blade whose apex points forward of the vehicle. Thestructure referred to as the “grader portion” that is used to supportthe V-shaped cutting blade is quite complex. Incorporated rear graderblades and rotary adjustment plates for setting the angle of the rearblades with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Bytilting the vehicle's lift arms, the V-shaped cutting blade can be usedto cut a V-shaped groove or ditch in the ground.

The Jenne patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,001 shows a somewhat similarattachment for a work vehicle having articulated, planar bladescontrolled by hydraulic cylinders that can be shifted from a rectilinearconfiguration to a V-shape and which when dragged across the ground inits V-shape will create a ditch or swale. Again, the mechanism forshifting the blades is somewhat complex involving many structuralcomponents.

The Huehnergard U.S. Published Application 2007/0209240 describes ascraper attachment similar in principle to the arrangement shown in theJenne '001 reference, using hydraulic cylinders to reorient first andsecond planar blade members to create a V-shape for scraping a V-shapedswale in a ground surface.

A need exists for a much lower cost attachment for work vehicles of thetype described that can be used to push or pull earth in a scrapingoperation, but by tilting the hydraulic lift arms of the vehicle, itwill create a swale when dragged across the ground. The presentinvention meets this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a push-pull attachment for a skidsteer-type vehicle that comprises an arcuate, generally semi-circularblade member having first and second ends and a predetermined heightdimension. A steel support member extends between the first and secondends and a conventional quick-attach plate is centered on and welded tothe steel support member allowing rapid connection of the attachment tothe work vehicle. A pair of support bars are disposed between thequick-attach plate and the arcuate blade member to provide structuralrigidity to the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment, especially when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals in theseveral views refer to corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention as seen from an upper front location;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment coupled to a work vehicleand positioned for merely scraping the ground; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown attachedto a work vehicle and angled so as to create an arcuate groove or swellwhen either being pushed or pulled by the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description of this invention. In thedescription, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”,“vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as wellas derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”,etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then describedor as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms arefor convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus beconstructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as“connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining”are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface beingsecured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in onepiece, unless expressively described otherwise.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the attachment of the present invention isindicated generally by numeral 10 and is seen to comprise an elongatedarcuate plate 12 which is preferably semi-circular having first andsecond ends 14 and 16. Depending on the type of vehicle involved, thediameter of the semi-circle blade will be in a range of from 5 feet to 8feet wide for use with skid loaders, 2 feet to 5 feet wide for backhoesand smaller skid loaders, 8 feet to 12 feet wide for larger pay-loaderand tractors. Its height dimension may be in a range of from 10 inchesto 36 inches.

Spanning the distance between the ends 14 and 16 is a support bar 18which is welded to the inner surface of the arcuate plate 12. Gussets,as at 20, provide increased rigidity to the welded joint. Centered onand welded to the support member 18 is a quick-attach plate 22 ofstandard design and commonly used with work vehicles such as skidsteers, frontend loaders and tractors for securing attachments of onetype or another to the hydraulic lift arms of the vehicle. For thosedesiring more detailed information on the shape and dimensions for thequick-attach plate 22, they are referred to internet addresshttp://blog.quickattach.com. Again, to provide further support andrigidity to the blade 12, a pair of support bars 24 and 26 are weldedbetween the quick attach plate 22 and the inner surface of the arcuateblade 12. Again, gussets, as at 28, strengthen the weldments. The blade12 is preferably made of a high strength, abrasion-resistant steel, suchas AR200 steel.

In use, to level or smooth the earth, the scraper assembly 10 ispositioned as shown in FIG. 2 and, when pushed or pulled by the skidsteer vehicle, the blade 12 being vertical with respect to the ground,will drag over the ground surface to smooth out irregularities.

When it is desired to dig a trench or swale, the vehicle's lift arms areraised to elevate the support bar 18, as seen in FIG. 3, thus tippingthe blade 12 at an angle to the ground. A downward force on theattachment 10 will be provided by the hydraulic cylinders A and B shownin FIG. 3. Now, when the vehicle is driven across a soil ground surface,the blade 12 will dig down while scraping to remove earth so as tocreate a rounded ditch or swale.

This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in theart with the information needed to apply the novel principles and toconstruct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it isto be understood that the invention can be carried out by specificallydifferent devices and that various modifications can be accomplishedwithout departing from the scope of the invention itself.

What is claimed is:
 1. A push-pull attachment for a skid steer vehiclecomprising: a) an arcuate blade member having first and second ends anda predetermined height dimension; b) a steel support member extendingbetween the first and second ends; c) a quick attach plate centered onand welded to the steel support member; and d) first and second supportbars disposed between the quick attach plate and the arcuate blademember.
 2. The push-pull attachment as in claim 1 wherein the blademember is semi-circular.
 3. The push-pull attachment as in claim 1wherein the predetermined height dimension is in a range between 10inches and 36 inches.
 4. The push-pull attachment as in claim 2 whereinthe blade member has a diameter in a range of from 48 inches to 108inches.
 5. The push-pull attachment as in claim 2 wherein the blade isan abrasion-resistant steel.